Which of the following describes the effect of overwhelming assault during an attack?

The correct answer, which describes the effect of an overwhelming assault during an attack, is the concept of overwhelming the enemy's defenses. This strategy involves applying intense pressure through both numerical superiority and coordinated attacks, which can lead to disorganization and chaos within the opposing force. When an attacking force is able to overload the enemy's defenses, it can create breaches in their lines or disrupt their capability to respond effectively. This idea rests on the principle that when an attacker presents a more significant amount of force than the defender can manage, it can lead to a collapse of those defenses, enabling the attacking forces to penetrate deeper and achieve their objectives.

Other options, while related to aspects of military operations, do not directly address the primary goal of an overwhelming assault. Displacing the enemy from their base involves removing them from a defined position but does not capture the immediate effect of overwhelming force. Maintaining defensive positions relates more to a strategy of holding ground rather than attacking, whereas reducing supply chain effectiveness is more about logistics than the direct impact of an assault on the battlefield. Thus, the focus on overloading the enemy's defenses is crucial in understanding how successful attacks are formulated and executed in infantry tactics.